Magnet-actuated device.



F. T. KITCHEN.

MAGNET ACTUATED DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. I914.

Patented July 25,

2 SHEETS$HEET 1.

WITNESSES:

F. T. KITCHEN.

MAGNET ACTUATED DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1914.

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

law.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

FREDERICK T. KITCHEN, OF WEST NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COM- PBESSED METAL 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MAGNET-ACTUATED DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed January 21, 1914. Serial No. 813,498.

To all whom it M ay concern Be it known that I, FR DERICK T. KITCHEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in West New Brighton, Richmond county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnet-Actuated Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a magnet-actuated device and has for its object to produce a device of this character wherein a powerful magnet may be employed, but at the same time the consumption of electric current will be small, and to this end my invention consists in the provision of means whereby the energization of the magnet for the purpose of performing the work which the device is employed to do will at the same time break the circuit.

My invention is suitable for many purposes. It is particularly well adapted for use in connection with temperature-controlling devices such as the damper or air pipe of a furnace, a valve in a steam pipe or an electric switch or any part which in operation assumes one or the other of two positions, ac cording as to whether or not more heat is desired. For such use my invention is well adapted, and here it may advantageously be employed in connection with thermostatic controlling means which are actuated by the temperature of the apartment.

A desirable form in which my invention may be embodied is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 illustrates one en'iployment of my invention in connection with means for regulating a heating apparatus, and with a thermostat for controlling the operation of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 3 a side view thereof, partly in section, showing opposite positions of a tilting member, and Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section of the tilting member showing its actuating dog. Fig. 5 is a detail view, illustrating a modified construction of dog. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views, illustrating respectively in side elevation, in part section, and in plan another form of my invention, wherein it is illustrated in connection with a magnetic solenoid.

According to my invention a magnet A is employed which is provided with the usual coil a and with an armature of any of the types usually employed. In Figs. 1-5 I have illustrated the invention as applied to a mag net having a bar armature a which is pivotally mounted and is illustrated as provided with a flat spring a which constantly tends to draw the armature away from the coil.

' The means which are operated by the armature when the magent is energized include a tilting member B. This member is suitably supported in a fixed part of the device so as to permit it to move. As illustrated it is piy otedupon adjustable pivots 6, N, which allow it to move freely. The said tilting member B is capable of being tilted to the two extreme positions shown by full lines and dotted lines in Fig. 3. I prefer to provide means forv rendering the movement of the said tilting member from its central position to either of its extreme positions positive and energetic and for holding it in its extreme positions, and accordingly I have equipped the device with a spring C illustrated as a coiled spring, one end of which is attached to a fixed support 0 which is illustrated as in line with the pivot 5 and the other end of which is attached to a suitable part of the tilting member B, as for instance, av stud b (Fig. 2) which projects rearwardly from a projecting arm b of said tilting member. By this means when the member B has passed its center position moving in either direction, the spring C tends to draw it to its extreme limit of movement on that side of such position to which it may have passed.

The member B is tilted by a dog D, the operating portion d of which has a slight movement relatively to the armature a. This movement may be produced in various ways. The preferred form is that illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, wherein the dog is pivoted in the armature and its operating part (Z engages one or the other of oppositely disposed engaging surfaces E E arranged on the tilting member B, as for'instance, by being formed at the opposite ends of a plate E. If desired the dog D may be fixed upon the end of the armature a as shown in Fig. 5, and the operating part, which I shall here letter 03 may have its capacity for movement derived from the fact that it is a spring member. The plate E is preferably provided with flaring guides 0 e which direct the dog toward the respective engaging surfaces E E, whereby the member B is tilted. The shape of the said guides depends somewhat upon the character of dog employed. If the pivoted dog is used the guides may be joined by a rounded or convex surface illustrated in Fig 4. If, however, the spring dog of Fig. 5 should be employed, I prefer that the said flaring guides should be continued to the apex c i for the purpose of insuring the proper guiding of the spring dog.

My preferred form of dog is pivoted and inconnection therewith I may well employ means for causing the dog to swing controlled by the swinging of the tilting member, whereby the operating end of the dog will be in position to engage the proper engaging surface to tilt the said tilting member to its opposite position. For this purpose suitable means are provided which are illustrated as a connection between the tilting member 'andthe dog. This connection may be made in any one of a number of ways,as illustrated a flexible link l 1 s employed, which may be a chain. This hnk F is preferably attached to the dog D on the opposite side of its pivot from the operating end (Z, at f, and it is also attached to a suitable part of the tilting member B as, for in stance, to an extension arm 1%. Thereby the tilting member B and the dog I) are caused to swing in unison and the engaging end (I is in position to engage the proper engaging surface 6 or c on the plate E to cause the tilting member to be moved in the proper direction. Attached to the tilting member B is a switch S which, as the said member is tilted, is caused to make contact with one or the other of the terminals k [b of a double-branched electric circuit H, which has a source of electricity It, and two branches it it which contact with said terminals respectively. The switch is preferably made of spring metal, so that it may retain contact with the terminal which is in circuit and thereby energize the magnet for a sutlicient length of time to permit the armature to move the tilting member past its dead center.

The object of my invention is to actuate devices whereby some result may be accomplished such as the control of heat-providing devices or any one of many other uses. This necessitates the employment of an actuating part to be moved by the magnet-controlled device. Such actuating part may well be connected to the tilting member B, as for instance to the extending arm 5, to which chain it is connected.

I have illustrated in Fig. 1 one manner in which my invention may well be employed. Here it is illustrated as actuated by the operation of the thermostat G to control the heat furnished by a furnace K. The thermostat G may be of any of the numerous types employed for this purpose. It is situated in the electric circuit H, and is caused to operate by the temperature of the room and open or close the circuit as such temperature varies. In this embodiment of my invention the furnace K is controlled by my improved magnet-actuated device through the opening or closing of the electric circuit which includes said device at the thermostat G. The production of heat by the furnace K may be controlled in many ways. Such control is illustrated as accomplished through a link L which is attached to the extension arm Z) of my invention and lifts a weighted arm k of the furnace, or permits the same to drop under the control of its weight. When the room becomes overheated the thermostat closes the circuit through one or the other of the branches h 71, energizing the magnet and causing the tilting member B to lift the weighted arm whereby the said arm opens the lid to an air inlet k admitting air to the flue 7.: and checking the draft. \Vhen the room becomes cool enough so that the thermostat G closes the circuit through the opposite branch, the magnet is again energized, causing thetilting member B to move in the opposite direction, and permitting the weighted arm to drop, closing the lid Zr and restoring the draft. At the same time an extension from the other end of the said weighted arm 7: closes the draft door if as the air inlet b is opened, and opens the draft door 70* as the air inlet k is closed.

In operation my device. acts as follows: Assuming that the device is applied to use as indicated in Fig. 1 and that the apartment has cooled to the point where more heat is required, actuating the thermostat so that the circuit is closed at the thermostat. The circuit will then be closed through the battery wire it, thermostat G, branch h, the terminal h", the switch S, and the magnet A. The magnet will then be energized, attracting the armature bar a and causing the dog D to engage against one of the engaging surfaces on the tilting member B and move said tilting member toward its opposite position. The spring switch S will remain in contact with the terminal 72, and so keep the circuit closed until the tilting member has moved past its dead center. Thereupon the spring switch will pass out of contact with the said terminal, breaking the circuit, and stopping the consumption of electric current. At this time the coiled spring C will cause a further movement of the tilting member B and will draw the same to its extreme position, when the switch S will be in contact with the other terminal 71., which, however, will not then be in circuit. This movement of the tilting member B through link 7.: will allow arm is to descend under its weight and close air inletlt' and open draft Zr. This movement of the tilting member B will have caused the connection F to have tilted the branch 71?.

Although I have illustrated my invention in Figs. 1 to 5 in connection with an ordi' nary form of electro-magnet, it will be apparent that its use is not so limited, but that it may also be employed in connection with a magnetic solenoid, and for many reasons, I am now of the opinion that the form illustrated in connection with a magnetic solenoid will be found preferable.

In Figs. 6 7 and 8 the magnetic solenoid which I shall here letter A is provided with a movable core a which latter is preferably held in extended position by a coiled spring such as a and a suitable stop thereon a prevents an undue movement of the said core. In this form of my invention the switch S is the same as in the first form. The tilting member here lettered B is different only in form due to the fact that the engaging surfaces E E upon the said tilting member have a slightly different shape than they have in the prior form by reason of the fact that the dog D operates by pulling the said tilting members rather than by pushing them, and is accordingly formed with oppositely disposedengaging hooks d which are shaped to engage the respective portions E E of tilting member B The arm 6 of the tilting member has a stud 6 connected to spring C as in the previous form. The tilting member is provided with another arm 6 which is similar to the arm I) of the previous form and may likewise provide means for attachment to the actuated part. Meansfor causing the dog to swing by the movement of the tilting member are also provided, and cornprise a link F which may be flexible and is preferably connected to the tilting member as at the lower part thereof and likewise to the dog D The electrical connections are the same as in the previous form and need not be again described. In this form of my invention the operation is substantially the same as in the prior form, and differs therefrom only by reason of the diferent movement imparted to the armature. In this form upon energization of the coil the armature (1 will be attracted and move downward against the tension' of spring a". The dog I) being then in contact with one or the other of the offset portions E E of the tilting member will pull the said portion down with it, thereby tilting the said member B operating the actuated part and causing the switch S to break contact and open the circuit after the armature has moved the tilting member (which is pivoted on the adjustable pivots b b as in the previous form) past its dead center. Thereupon the circuit being open, the spring (1 will move the tilting member to the limit of its movement in the direction in which it has being moved by the armature. It will be observed that as in the previous form the spring C is adapted to move the tilting member in both directions.

In Fig. 7 the core and its connected dog are in the lower position. When the circuit is opened and the solenoid dcenergized, its core a will be moved upward under the influence of its spring a. Thereupon the dog D will be swung upon its pivotal connection by the link F to the opposite position from that shown and will then be in position on its next trip to engage surface E which is uppermost and draw the same down, tilting the tilting member I3 I have illustrated my invention as being employed in connection with a thermostat G. Obviously this thermostat may be of any construction as its function is to open and close the circuit. I have therefore not described the construction employed as numerous types are well known. For this same reason my invention is not limited to the employment of a thermostat as the means for opening and closing the electric circuit as other devices may be employed for this purpose, the nature of which will be controlled by the character of the work. For instance, if a periodic make and break of the circuit is desired clockwork may be employed or, if desired, the circuit may be controlled irregularly, as for instance, by a float valve to shut off a water supply. These few instances illustrate the variety of uses for which my invention is adapted.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my invention is not concerned with the particular style of magnet employed, or yet is it limited to the particular shape or man ner of engagement between the parts made use of, nor is it limited in the nature of the work to be performed thereby, nor in the manner of connecting the parts. These and numerous other details may be varied within the limits of the appended claims and other devices or other equivalents employed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A magnet-actuated device comprising a magnet, two contact pieces, a tilting member pivotally mounted in a fixed part of said device, a spring adapted to hold said member in adjusted position, a spring switch positively connected to said tilting member and positively moved by the movement of said tilting member and adapted to contact with one or the other of said contact pieces and to remain in contact therewith until said tilting member passes the dead center,

7 and a dog movably mounted upon a moving element of said magnet and adapted, when the magnet is energized, to tilt said member and throw said switch.

:2. A. magnet-actuated device comprising a pivoted switch operating member, an electric circuit, a magnet included therein, a spring switch positively connected to said operating member so as to be positively moved thereby into or out of contact with the terminal of said circuit, and means for moving said switch operating member from a moving element of said magnet comprising an operating dog pivotally mounted on said moving element, the spring action of said switch permitting it to remain in contact with said terminal until the switch operating member has been moved past its center, a connection between said dog and said switch operating member, whereby the dog is moved by relative movement between said parts, whereby upon energizing of the magnet the switch is moved to open the circuit.

3. A magnet-actuated device, comprising a pair of terminals, a rocking spring switch adapted to engage one or the other of said terminals, a magnet, a spring pressed moving element and devices for rocking said switch actuated by successive energizings of said magnet, whereby when the circuit is closed through the magnet and one of said terminals by said switch the switch is rocked and its spring action permits it to keep the circuit closed until the moving element has traveled a substantial part of its way toward the magnet.

4. A magnet-actuated device, comprising a pair of terminals, a magnet, a rocking switch actuator pivotally mounted adjacent said magnet, and adapted to be rocked by the movable element of said magnet when the magnet is energized, a switch having spring arms carried by said rocking actuator, said switch adapted to contact with either of said terminals through one or the other of said arms, and to remain in contact with the terminal through which current is passing until the said moving element has moved said actuator past its center position, and to break the circuit when the actuator is moved to its extreme opposite position.

5. A magnet-actuated device, comprising a pair of terminals, a magnet, a rocking switch actuator pivotally mounted adjacent said magnet, a dog movably mounted in a moving element of said magnet and adapted to rock said actuator as the magnet is energized, a switch having spring arms carried by said rocking actuator, said switch adapted to contact with either of said terminals through one or the other of said arms and to remain in contact with the terminal through which current is passing until the said moving element has moved said actuator past its center position and to break the circuit when the actuator is moved to its extreme opposite position.

6. A magnet-actuated device, comprising a pair of terminals, a magnet having a sprin retracted moving element, a rocking switci having double spring arms, a dog pivotally mounted in the saidmoving element and adapted to rock said switch to alternately engage one or the other of said terminals as the magnet is energized, said switch adapted to remain in contact with the terminal in circuit until the switch is rocked past center.

7. A magnet-actuated device, comprising a pair of terminals, a magnet having a spring retracted moving element, a rocking switch having double spring arms, a dog pivotally mounted in the said moving element and adapted to rock said switch to alternately engage one or the other of said terminals as the magnet is energized, said switch adapted to remain in contact with the terminal in circuit until the switch is rocked past center, and a connection between said dog and said rocking switch whereby said dog is shifted in position when the switch is rocked.

8. A magnet-actuated device comprising a pair of terminals, a magnet having a spring retracted moving element, a rocking switch having double spring arms, a dog pivotally mounted in the said moving element and adapted to rock said switch to alternately engage one or the other of said terminals as the magnet is energized, said switch adapted to remain in contact with the terminal in circuit until the switch is rocked past center, a connection between said dog and said rocking switch whereby said dog is shifted in position when the switch is rocked, and a spring attached to said switch at one side of its pivot and to a fixed part at the other side and adapted to move said switch either way from the center and to hold the switch in either extreme position.

9. A magnet-actuated device comprising a pair of terminals, a magnet having a spring retracted moving element, a rocking switch pivoted adjacent said magnet and having engaging surfaces on each side of its pivot and an extending arm, a dog pivotally mounted in the said moving element and having an extension above its pivot and a flexible connection between said extensions whereby on each movement of the said moving element the switch is rocked by the dog, and the dog is then shifted to position to engage the opposite surface of the switch in its next operation.

10. A magnet-actuated device, comprising a magnetic solenoid, aspring retracted moving element for said magnet, a dog pivotally mounted on said moving element, a tilting member in position to be tilted by said dog as the moving element is attracted, and means whereby said dog is caused to engage said tilting member on opposite sides of its pivot in succeeding movements of said moving element, comprising a flexible link pivotally connecting said tilting member and said dog, whereby upon the retraction of said armature, the dog will be moved to a position to tilt said tilting member in the other direction in its next trip.

11. A magnet actuated device, comprising a double branched electric circuit, a magnet therein, an armature bar pivotally mounted at one side of said magnet and spring held away from the helix, a dog pivotally mounted in the free end of said bar, a tilting frame pivotally mounted below said dog and having its surface inclined downward both Ways from the center and having shoulders at the ends of the inclinations, a spring switch carried by said tilting frame and adapted to contact with one or the other of the terminals of said double branches, and close the circuit through either branch and the spring character of the switch permitting it to remain in contact with a terminal until the tilting frame is moved past its center, a spring for holding the switch in either adjusted position, said spring adapted to throw the switch in either direction from.

substantially central points, and means for causing the dog in successive operations of the armature to engage opposite surfaces in said tilting frame.

12 A magnet actuated device, comprising a double branched electric circuit, a magnet therein, an armature bar pivotally mounted at one side of said magnet and spring held away from the helix, a dog pivotally mounted in the free end of said bar, a tilting frame pivotally mounted below said dog and having its surface inclined downward both Ways from the center and having shoulders at the ends of the inclinations, a spring switch carried by said tilting frame and adapted to contact with one or the other of the terminals of said double branches, and close the circuit through either branch, and the spring character of the switch permitting it to remain in contact with a terminal until the tilting frame is moved past its center, a spring for holding the switch in either adjusted position, said spring adapted to throw the switch in either direction from substantially central points, and a link connecting said dog above its pivot with said tilting frame, whereby the operative end of said dog after each operation is moved to position to engage the opposite surface of said tilting frame on the next operation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK T. KITCHEN.

Witnesses HENRY M. TURK, FRED WHITE. 

